'Confidence game' definitions:

Definition of 'confidence game'

noun

A swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property [syn: bunco, bunco game, bunko, bunko game, con, confidence trick, confidence game, con game, gyp, hustle, sting, flimflam]

Definition of 'Confidence game'

From: GCIDE

Confidence \Con"fi*dence\, n. [L. confidentia firm trust in, self-confidence: cf. F. confidence.]
1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. [1913 Webster]
Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. --South. [1913 Webster]
A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
2. That in which faith is put or reliance had. [1913 Webster]
The Lord shall be thy confidence. --Prov. iii. 26. [1913 Webster]
3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. [1913 Webster]
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go forth to-day. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. [1913 Webster]
Sir, I desire some confidence with you. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler; several swindlers often work together to create the illusion of truth; -- also called con game.
Confidence man, a swindler.
To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.
Syn: Trust; assurance; expectation; hope. [1913 Webster]
I am confident that very much be done. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]
2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. [1913 Webster]
Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted. [1913 Webster]
As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous. [1913 Webster]
The fool rageth and is confident. --Prov. xiv. 16. [1913 Webster]
5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.] [1913 Webster]
The cause was more confident than the event was prosperous. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Confidence game'

From: GCIDE

Game \Game\, n. [OE. game, gamen, AS. gamen, gomen, play, sport; akin to OS., OHG., & Icel. gaman, Dan. gammen mirth, merriment, OSw. gamman joy. Cf. Gammon a game, Backgammon, Gamble v. i.]
1. Sport of any kind; jest, frolic. [1913 Webster]
We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. A contest, physical or mental, according to certain rules, for amusement, recreation, or for winning a stake; as, a game of chance; games of skill; field games, etc. [1913 Webster]
But war's a game, which, were their subject wise, Kings would not play at. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
Note: Among the ancients, especially the Greeks and Romans, there were regularly recurring public exhibitions of strength, agility, and skill under the patronage of the government, usually accompanied with religious ceremonies. Such were the Olympic, the Pythian, the Nemean, and the Isthmian games. [1913 Webster]
3. The use or practice of such a game; a single match at play; a single contest; as, a game at cards. [1913 Webster]
Talk the game o'er between the deal. --Lloyd. [1913 Webster]
4. That which is gained, as the stake in a game; also, the number of points necessary to be scored in order to win a game; as, in short whist five points are game. [1913 Webster]
5. (Card Playing) In some games, a point credited on the score to the player whose cards counts up the highest. [1913 Webster]
6. A scheme or art employed in the pursuit of an object or purpose; method of procedure; projected line of operations; plan; project. [1913 Webster]
Your murderous game is nearly up. --Blackw. Mag. [1913 Webster]
It was obviously Lord Macaulay's game to blacken the greatest literary champion of the cause he had set himself to attack. --Saintsbury. [1913 Webster]
7. Animals pursued and taken by sportsmen; wild meats designed for, or served at, table. [1913 Webster]
Those species of animals . . . distinguished from the rest by the well-known appellation of game. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
Confidence game. See under Confidence.
To make game of, to make sport of; to mock. --Milton. [1913 Webster]